My husband and I go to a lot of plays and concerts, sometimes taking out two teenagers. My son and I are large, my daughter and husband are not. When we head to our seats, if there is a large person next to us, either my husband or daughter sits there, so everyone is more comfortable. In other words, most theater seats aren't big enough to allow two large people to sit next to each other in comfort. So everyone suffers, and not surprisingly the average sized patron feels miffed when the larger person is pressing up against them.

I don't think this will ever happen, but what if theaters had a special row or two designed for people who need extra space? People could self-select ahead of time (it's not like you'd be measured at the door!) if they knew the option was available.

I wonder if people would like this? Would sitting in the "fat row" be worse than crowding the people next to you?

In our newest theater, in the last row, the armrests raise up and your not so squished. I like sitting back there when the theater isn't full and put my feet up and kick back and watch the movie. I usually take my lunch and noone's the wiser...

Our Century theater has the lift up arm rests every other row, the other rows have chairs that tilt slightly backwards.

I was actually thinking of regular theaters more than movie theaters....in a movie you don't usually have to sit right next to a stranger, whereas at plays and concerts you usually do, and can't choose your seat.